ITC Afforestation Programme Greening more than 683,000 Acres of Land

YC Deveshwar led ITC Limited, a multi-business conglomerate, has greened over 683,000 acres of land together under its farm and social forestry programmes in last 18 years, generating 124 million man-days of employment, reveals 15th Sustainability Report 2018.

The footprint of ITC’s social development projects is spread over 25 States/Union. Territories covering 188 districts. Company has spent Rs 291 Crore in various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in India for the period of April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

Farm and Social Forestry Programmes were launched during the year 2001-02, have covered over 201,000 acres of land under pulpwood plantations, over 93,400 acres of land under energy plantation and 494 acres of bamboo plantations, report says.

“Advancements in green technology, innovative ideas from the world’s millennials, ease of communication and connectivity will no doubt contribute to new thinking and to finding better solutions to ensure a secure and safer world in times to come.”, YC Deveshwar, Chairman, ITC Limited says in the report.

“I remain optimistic that businesses will make an increasing contribution in the future, not only in enlightened self-interest, but because the new normal will be about doing well by doing good.”, he adds.

“The programme focuses on creating commercially viable land use options for smallholder farmers through tree-based farming to diversify incomes from land while fostering food, fodder and fuelwood security.”, report adds.

During the year 2018, 10,926.2 mn MT of wood was harvested, of which 22% (24,236 MT) was FSC certified wood, which benefits farmers through premium payment. Total wealth generation was to the tune of Rs. 316.7 mn (31.67 Crore) for poor and marginal farmers.

“Agro Forestry continued to be given emphasis, accounting for more than 95% of area under eucalyptus. Given the sizeable area under agro-forestry, and to drive improvement in farm economics from intercrops, ITC continued its partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature, India (WWF India) to implement ‘Better Cotton Initiative’ in three districts of Telangana – Khammam, Warangal and Nalgonda”, report says.

SOCIAL FORESTRY

Activity

2016-17

2017-18

Cum to 2017-18

Coverage

No. of Villages

276

182

4,991

No. of new beneficiaries

10,823

12,708

109,232

Total Forestry (Acres)

38,916

39,504

295,065

Agro Forestry Area (Acres)

21,553

19,683

101,939

Saplings Planted (Million)

76

76

628

WOOD HARVEST

Description

2016-17

2017-18

Area (Acres)

8,126

6,161

Farmers (Nos.)

3,167

2,342

Volume Harvested (MT)

148,236

109,262

Total Income (INR Million)

570.5

316.7

Earnings / Household (INR)

180,145

135,228

Earnings / Acre (INR)

70,208

51,400

“ITC’s vision of sustainable and inclusive growth has led to the adoption of a triple bottom line approach that simultaneously builds economic, social and environmental capital.”, report further adds.